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TOMS RIVER – A fire in parking lot of a Route 166 strip mall destroyed a minivan and scorched store signs and awnings Wednesday morning.

Police and firefighters were called to 970 Route 166 at 10:06 a.m., for a reported vehicle fire. Officers Daniel Brennan and Brent Mundy arrived and found a 2001 Ford Windstar minivan in the parking lot with the engine compartment engulfed in flames. They attempted to fight the blaze, but quickly spread to the passenger compartment, police said.